Baby Steps Delayed as Developers Step Aside for Hollow Knight Silksong
Fittingly enough, the team behind Baby Steps is treading cautiously. The walking simulator was previously scheduled to arrive on PlayStation 5 and Steam on September 8, but Hollow Knight Silksongs surprise release date of September 4 prompted publisher Devolver Digital and the developers to delay their game until September 23.
They made the announcement with a humorous clip showing Baby Steps protagonist Nate trying to scale a replica of Silksongs character Hornet, only to inevitably tumble into the dirt. In a statement, Devolver described Nate as the wary, onesie-donned failson at the heart of the eccentric adventure who has stumbled after attempting to ascend his greatest challenge yet, launching the week after Hollow Knight Silksong.
Baby Steps is a sort-of spiritual successor to Bennett Foddys classic, rage-inducing browser game QWOP. Players take granular control over Nates legs to help him clumsily navigate and climb a mountain. While anticipation has been building for the full game, the delay of a couple of extra weeks seems a prudent move.
This is not an isolated case. Several other indie developers and publishers have delayed their games to avoid getting swallowed up by the Silksong discourse. The horror-tinged, slot machine-based roguelite CloverPit and the tactics RPG Demonshool have moved from September 3 to September 26 and November 19, respectively. The 1.0 version of adventure RPG Faeland and a Metroidvania called Aeterna Lucis no longer have firm release dates.
However, not everyone is backing down. Bloober Team is staying the course with Cronos The New Dawn, which is still set for September 5, and Rogue Factor is doing the same with Hell is Us on September 4.
These delays are reminiscent of recent industry reports that publishers were hesitant to announce fall release dates for fear of getting crushed by Grand Theft Auto VI, which was originally expected late this year. Rockstar has since delayed its game until May 2026. Devolver has notably stated it is not running scared of that particular blockbuster and has even committed to releasing a game on the same day as GTA VI. But for now, the immediate shadow of Hollow Knight Silksong appears too formidable an opponent for the precarious steps of Baby Steps.
